Adjustable and detachable frame or skirting for hearths



(No Model.)

AJW. KOCH. ADJUSTABLE AND DETAGHABLE FRAME 0R SKIRTING FOR HfaARTEs. No. 509,577. Patented Nov. 28, 1893.

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i MQ INIIIWIININNHImm-llmilmllll 15 "HI nullmmmluuumml a mum UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUST WV. KOCH, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

ADJUSTABLE AND DETACHABLE FRAME 0R S KlRTlNG FOR HEARTHS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 509,577, dated November 28, 1893.

Application filed August 26, 1893. Serial No. 484,142- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUST W. KooH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented an Adjustable and Detachable Frame or Skirting for Hearths, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a finishing frame or guard surrounding the three sides or edges of the fore-slab of a fire-place hearth, the novel features of which being fully hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings-Figure 1 is a plan view of my invention, showing my frame in its preferred adjustable and detachable form, applied to a hearth made up of small tiles, the floor of the room being broken 0E, and the upright walls broken and in section; Fig. 2, a similar plan, but showing my frame applied to a single slab having an additional raised border or curbing, thus clearly presenting to view the ready adaptation of my adj ustable-frame to the difference or increase in size of hearth-slab, several of the joint-covers or extension-plates being omitted to show the preferred construction of the ends of the frame-bars; Fig. 3, a longitudinal sectional elevation on line 00, 0c, of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a cross-section on line y, y, of Fig. 2; and Fig. 5, a plan of a modified form of cornerplate.

A, represents an ordinary floor of a room, and B, the hearth-slab, set horizontally, as customary, in front of the fire-place, on floor A. The hearth-slab may, evidently, consist of a single piece of stone, slate, or other suitable material, (as seen in Fig. 2,) or of anumber of blocks or tiles of various sizes, colors, and configurations, (as best seen in Fig. 1,) and, in the preferred application of my invention herein, I set said slab on a shallow platform on, to bring it in a plane slightly above that of the floor.

0, O, represent'two members or bars forming the front or longitudinal portion of my frame; and D, D, are short bars forming the two sides of my frame. I have shown these bars (3 and D, as being made of concavo-convex metal, and provided with slots or elongated-holes c, at either end of each.

E represents a foundation or backing-stri p,

of quadrant-shape in cross-section, beneath each frame bar 0 and D, surrounding the three outer edges or sides of the hearth-slab.

F, F, represent angular corner-plates or extensions, and G, G, end plates or extensions, covering or fitting over the several joints at the corners and inner ends respectively of my said frame-bars, a plate or extensionf being provided at the center of the longitudinal portion of the frame, to cover thejointformed by the adjoininginner ends of said members or bars O, 0. Suitable holes are provided in the several plates or extensions F, G,f, for the accommodation of screws g, whose shanks pass downward thro ugh the slots in said frame bars and thence through the backing-strips E into the floor, as best seen in Figs. 3 and 4.

"In Fig. 2, a raised curbing or molding 1) surrounds the said three edges of the slab, and, said slab being the same in dimensions as the sectional slab or tiling seen in Fig. 1, my frame is readily adjusted to the increase in size occasioned by said curbing, the position of the screws 9, in the slots 0 (at the corners only being shown,as there need be but slight adjustment for said narrow curbing), indicating the extent to which the adjoining square outer ends of the side and front frame-bars may depart from each other and still be covered by the extension corner-plates F, F, (best seen in dotted lines to the right in Fig. 2.) When a greater adjustment is necessary, for a much larger hearth-slab, the side and front bars are adapted to part at right angles from each other, and said side-bars to part from the wall, to an extent limited only by the size of the extensions or covering plates F, f, and G, respectively, and, if a smaller slab than that seen in Fig. 1 is to be framed, the ends of the bars 0 and D need only to be trimmed off sufficient to suit the diiference in size, which can be very readily accomplished. The screws 9 can, of course, be inserted at any pointalong the backing-strips E wherever there is an opening in the metal frame-bar, as is clearly obvious, or holes may be readily drilled and bored in both said bars and backings, wherever it is desired or expedient, for the accommodation of said fastening-screws. The frame being preferably entirely of metal, such a brass or steel, either plated or not, or ornamental or plain, as desired, it can be kept suitably burnished, and the rounded form shown would certainly present a very serviceable and desirable effect.

It will be seen that my frame herein, is both an adjustable and detachable one, being well adapted to ready-attachment to or removal from the hearth, and also packed in small compass for storage, shipment, and general manipulation. Repairs thereto, and'replacing any damaged or defective part or parts thereof, can also bevery readily accomplished.

In Fig. 5, I have shown a modified form of corner-plate, which is provided with feet or bottom flanges (1, having holes therein for the fastening-screws which pass into the floor directly beneath. These screw-holed feet are equally well adapted to the central and end plates or extensions f and G, and thus no screw-holes need be provided in the said covering-plates F, f, and G, nor in the frame-bars G and D at all, for, when the screws have been firmly turned to place through said feet into the fioor, the said covering-plates at the center, corners, and inner ends of the frame, are brought down tightly over the joints, and, when desired, very easily adjusted to suit hearth-slabs of various sizes. The carpet e is laid with its edge along the base of the frame,

(see Figs. 3 and 4,) and, when the coveringplates are provided with attaching-feet d, the carpet effectually conceals said feet and the fastening-screws from view.

It is obvious that, to insure a positive or firm fastening of the bars C and D in place, they could be provided with flanges or feet, the same as those on the corner-plates, just described, and likewise fastened. It is also obvious that my frame, is also adapted to be applied to the ordinary slabs which are set on the same plane with the floor, or very slightly above it, as in general use, by simply providing a raised border or curb to suit the height of the said frame, and, as such would be very simple and not materially different to the form seen in Figs. 2 and 4, I deem it unnecessary to further show or describe same herein. It is also obvious that my frame could be made right-angled or perfectly fiat in crosssection, or, in fact, in other suitable form than the concavo-convex one herein shown, and be well adapted to the purposes desired. It is also obvious that the central extension-cover f could be dispensed with, if desired, and the front longitudinal portion of my frame be made in one piece, and,also, the end extensions G so dispensed with, and the result, so far as adjustment of the parts is concerned,would remain practically the same, except that it would not be to so great an extent, unless the corner-plates should be made longer; or, the corner-plates may be dispensed with and the other extensions remain intact, the adjoining ends of the side and front frame bars being then suitably mitered together, in stead of being squared off and apart as in the form shown.

A hearth slab or tiling, provided with such a frame as mine, would impart a very pleasing elfect to a room, particularly so where said tiling is in many suitable colors and designs, which would be strikingly artistic, and it would also form a guard to protect the edges of same from damage, thus practically assuming a more prominent part in the furnishings of a room, than any heretofore in use.

I claim 1. The combination with a hearth-slab, of an adjustable and detachable frame, composed of a longitudinal front-bar O, side-bars D, and corner extension covers or plates F, said bars being disconnected from each other, and said corner-plates covering the adjoining ends thereof and the whole secured to the floor, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

2. The combination with a hearth-slab, of an adjustable and detachable frame, composed of longitudinal front-bars O, 0, central extension-plate f covering and making the joint at the adjoining ends of said front-bars, side-bars D, D, and end extension-plates G over the inner ends of said side-bars, said side and front bars being properly connected or mitered at their adjoining ends to form corners, and the whole secured in place around said slab on the floor, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

3. The combination with a hearth-slab, of an adjustable and detachable frame composed of longitudinal front-bars C, 0, sidebars D, D, central joint extension-plate f, corner joint extension-plates F, F, and end extension-plates G, G, said front and side bars being disconnected from each other, and the said extension-plates F, f, G, making and preserving the joints thereof, and the whole securely fastened to the floor, substantially in the manner and for the purpose specified.

4. The combination with a hearthslab, of an adjustable and detachable frame, composed of slotted longitudinal front-bars O, O, slotted side-bars D, D, backing-strips E, central extension joint-plate f, corner extension joint-plates F, F, and end extension-plates G, G, said bars being disconnected from each other at their ends, and said ends covered and firmly but detachably secured by means of said extension-plates and screws g to the floor, in place around said slab, substantially in the manner and for the purpose specified.

In testimony of which invention I have hereunto set my hand.

AUGUST W. KOCH.

Witnesses:

JOHN E. J ONES, L. M.' JONES. 

